This is a novel about relationships and how people are
defined by relationships.

What are your thoughts about each of the following
relationships? How is each pair defined by the other?

Amir and Hassan

Amir and Baba

Hassan and Ali

Ali and Baba

Rahim Khan and Amir

This is a novel about defining moments. List the defining moments and explain
your choices.

Respond to the following quotes.

“I see you’ve
confused what you’re learning in school with actual education.” (Baba,
p. 16)Is there a difference between
the two? If so, what is it?

“There is only one sin…And that is
theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.”

(Baba, p. 17)To what extent is
this true in the novel?

“But he is not my friend! I almost blurted. He’s my servant! Had I really thought that? Of course I hadn’t.
I hadn’t. I treated Hassan well, just like a friend, better even, more like a
brother. But, if so, then why, when Baba’s friends came to visit with their
kids, didn’t I ever include Hassan in our games? Why did I play with Hassan
only when no one else was around? (Amir, p 41) What does this tell the
reader about Amir at this point in the novel?

“[Would you] eat dirt if I told you to?

“If you asked, I would.”…“But
I wonder, he added. “Would you ever ask me to do such a thing?

And just like that, he had thrown at
me his own little test. If I was going to toy with him and challenge his
loyalty, then he’d toy with me, test my integrity. (Amir
and Hassan, p 54) What do you think of this exchange?

5. “I
watched Hassan get raped,” I said to no one. Baba stirred in his sleep. Kaka
Homayoun grunted. A part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear, so I
wouldn’t have to live with this lie anymore. But no one woke up and in the
silence that followed, I understood the nature of my new curse. I was going to
get away with it. ( Amir, p 87)How is this a defining moment?

“Come. There is a
way to be good again.” (Rahim Khan, p 192) What does Rahim Khan know about
Amir? To what degree does he know him?

“Then I realized
something” That last thought had brought no sting with it. Closing Sohrab’s
door, I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of
epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away
unannounced in the middle of the night.” (Amir, p 359) What do you think
of Amir’s perception of forgiveness?